>Steve Clark recently wrot:
>
>>But let me turn the point around. Recently, while driving back to Madison
>>from Chicago, I heard Henry Morris on a Chicago Christian radio station
>>"explain" the metaphysics behind evolution science. He traced
>>"evolutionary" models from Darwin, to the Greeks and then to the Babylonians
>>(it was interesting to note that he excluded the vitalism of Augustine and
>>other Christian thinkers). Morris said that according to Babylonian
>>mythology, everything emanated from water and is akin to an evolutionary
>>model of origins. Then he made the astounding leap to explain how Satan was
>>the originator of this model. He suggested that since angels were created
>>on the first day (he cited Psalm 104 for this), Satan was present in the
>>world when it was covered with water. Satan, according to Morris, raised
>>his head and looked around and seeing only God and water, and not being
>>willing to acknowledge his origin in God, attributed it to the water. Thus,
>>we have the origins of Satan's role in the current model of evolution.
JB
>I wanted to see if I could track down this assertion, to determine whether it
>was an "astounding leap," or permissible theological speculation.
>
>I found the answer in Morris's The Long War Against God (Baker, 1989). He has
>a detailed passage on the very item Steve Clark is troubled about.
>
>Morris does not present this as dogma. At the close of
>the passage he states, "Since much of this scenario is inferential, it is not
>presented dogmatically." [pg. 260]
No such disclaimer was made on the recording played over the radio.
JB
>Anyway, Morris's point is simply this: How could Lucifer, a creation of God,
>possibly think he could ever vanquish his Creator? Morris proposes as the most
>rational inference that Lucifer did NOT really believe God was his Creator.
Actually, it seems that Morris' point was to promote the idea that evolution
science originates with Satan.
>As I thought about it, it seems only a firmly naturalistic mindset would have
>trouble with this. But we must examine our biases carefully before reaching
>conclusions. And rather than labelling Morris's idea as far out, we should
>approach it theologically and openly.
>
>Taking the hypothesis as presented by Morris, I find it imaginative and
>intriguing, with no great theological flaw, or flaw in logic.
I'm glad things are so clear for you realists. When some young Christian
tells me in all earnestness (without any disclaimer) that evolution has its
roots in Babylonian paganism, I will have him give you a call.
Steve
__________________________________________________________________________
Steven S. Clark, Ph.D. Phone: (608) 263-9137
Associate Professor FAX: (608) 263-4226
Dept. of Human Oncology and email: ssclark@facstaff.wisc.edu
UW Comprehensive Cancer Ctr
University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI 53792
"I had a great deal of respect for that preacher and I was saddened when
he was called to a bigger church. He was a Baptist, but he was still a
loss to the community". Ferrol Sams in EPIPHANY
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